Empire City Casino Slots



So you're thinking about heading to Yonkers to play the slots at Empire City, but you're wondering if it's worth the trip. Maybe you've heard it's a racino rather than a full casino, or you're confused about whether they have actual slot machines or just video lottery terminals. You're not alone—this is one of the most common points of confusion for New York players. Let's clear it all up so you know exactly what to expect before you drive out to Yonkers Raceway.

Video Lottery Terminals vs. Traditional Slots

Here's the thing that catches most people off guard: Empire City doesn't have traditional slot machines. What they have are Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs). Now, before you dismiss this as some inferior experience, understand that from a player's perspective, they look, sound, and play almost exactly like the slots you'd find in Atlantic City or Las Vegas. You press a button, reels spin, and you either win or you don't.

The difference is under the hood. Traditional slots are standalone games with their own RNG (random number generator) determining each spin's outcome. VLTs, on the other hand, are connected to a central lottery system run by the New York Lottery. Think of it like a scratch-off ticket that reveals its result through spinning reels on a screen. The central system determines if you've won before the reels even stop spinning—the animation is just for show.

Does this matter for your actual gameplay? Not really. The odds and payouts are regulated, and you can still hit jackpots. But it's worth knowing because the payback percentages on VLTs tend to be slightly lower than competitive markets like New Jersey. New York VLTs generally return around 90-92% to players, while Atlantic City slots often hover in the 91-94% range depending on the denomination and casino. That difference adds up over time, but for a casual night out, you probably won't notice.

Game Selection and Popular Titles

Empire City houses over 4,700 VLT machines, making it one of the largest gaming floors in the region. The game library includes many titles you'll recognize from major casino destinations. You'll find games from manufacturers like IGT, Scientific Games, and Everi—names that supply machines to casinos nationwide. Popular titles include various Quick Hit iterations, Lock It Link games, Ultimate Fire Link, and a solid selection of Wheel of Fortune variants.

Denominations range from penny slots up to higher-limit machines. Penny slots dominate the floor, as they do at most casinos, but you'll also find nickel, quarter, and dollar denominations. The higher-denomination machines typically offer better payback percentages—this is standard across the industry. If you're looking for even bigger action, there are high-limit areas with $5 and $10 machines, though the selection is smaller.

Progressive jackpots are a major draw. Because the VLTs are linked across multiple New York racinos, the progressive pools can grow substantial. Empire City regularly advertises jackpots hitting six figures, and they've had winners walk away with life-changing sums. The large-scale Wheel of Fortune progressives and Quick Hit Platinum jackpots tend to be the most chased games on the floor.

Betting Limits and Payout Rules

One quirk of playing at New York racinos involves the betting structure. The minimum bet across most machines is higher than you might expect. At many Atlantic City or Pennsylvania casinos, you can find true penny slots where betting one cent per line is possible. At Empire City, you're often looking at a minimum bet of 40 cents or more per spin because of how the credits convert through the lottery system. If you're used to stretching a $20 bill over an hour of play, you might burn through it faster here.

Payouts work differently too. Smaller wins get credited directly to your machine's credit meter. But for larger jackpots—typically anything over a certain threshold, often around $2,500—you'll need to wait for an attendant to process a hand pay. For the biggest progressive jackpots, expect paperwork and potentially a longer wait as the lottery system verifies the win. Bring your ID; they'll need it for any taxable jackpot ($1,200 or more for federal reporting purposes).

One advantage Empire City has over tribal casinos in upstate New York: they take winner's photos and celebrate big wins publicly, which some players enjoy. Others prefer the anonymity of smaller venues—it's a matter of personal preference.

Players Club and Comps at Empire City

The Empire Club rewards program ties directly to your play. You earn points based on your wagers, and those points can be redeemed for free play, dining credits at the on-site restaurants, or merchandise. Like most casino loyalty programs, the return rate on points isn't particularly generous—you're looking at roughly 0.1% to 0.2% of your coin-in coming back as comps—but the mailers can improve this substantially for regular players.

If you live within driving distance and plan to visit regularly, always use your card. Empire City sends out targeted offers that include free slot play, dining vouchers, and invitations to special events. These offers scale with your play level, so someone betting max credits on dollar slots will receive significantly more than a penny-slot player. The tier system (Empire, Empire Plus, Empire Elite, Empire Premier) determines your benefit level, with higher tiers earning multipliers on points and access to exclusive lounges.

Parking is free and abundant, which is a small but real value compared to casinos that charge for self-parking. The facility also has a food court and full-service restaurants, making it easy to turn a gambling trip into a full evening out without leaving the property.

Comparing Empire City to Nearby Alternatives

If you're in the New York metro area, you have choices. Empire City is convenient if you're in Westchester, the Bronx, or parts of Manhattan—it's about 20 minutes north of Midtown without traffic. But you should weigh what you're getting versus alternatives like Atlantic City, Pennsylvania casinos, or even the tribal casinos in upstate New York.

Atlantic City offers traditional Class III slot machines with competitive payback percentages and a broader variety of games. You're also getting table games (blackjack, roulette, craps), which Empire City lacks. The trade-off is the two-plus hour drive from most of the NYC area, plus tolls and potentially hotel costs if you stay overnight. Pennsylvania casinos like Parx or Wind Creek Bethlehem sit somewhere in between—closer than AC, with real slots and table games, but further than Yonkers.

Empire City wins on convenience and accessibility for a quick gambling fix. It's also smoke-free, which some players strongly prefer. But if you want table games, poker rooms, or the full resort experience, you'll need to travel further.

Casino	Distance from NYC	Game Type	Table Games
Empire City (Yonkers)	~15 miles	VLTs	No
Resorts World NYC (Queens)	~10 miles	VLTs/Electronic Table Games	Electronic Only
Parx Casino (PA)	~90 miles	Traditional Slots	Yes
Atlantic City Casinos	~125 miles	Traditional Slots	Yes

The Upcoming Transition to Full Casino Gaming

Here's where things get interesting. Empire City is actively pursuing a full commercial casino license. The state of New York has authorized up to three downstate casino licenses, and Empire City's parent company, MGM Resorts, is heavily invested in securing one. If successful, this would transform the property significantly.

A full casino license would allow Empire City to install traditional Class III slot machines, add live table games with human dealers, and expand the property into more of a resort destination with hotel rooms, expanded dining, and entertainment venues. This would fundamentally change the player experience—better odds on slots, the social atmosphere of table games, and more reasons to make the trip.

Competitors for these licenses include Resorts World NYC in Queens (which also operates VLTs currently) and several proposals in Manhattan and other boroughs. The timeline has shifted multiple times, but licenses are expected to be awarded within the next few years. For now, it remains a racino, but regular players should keep an eye on developments.

Tips for Your Visit

If you're heading to Empire City for slots, go in with realistic expectations. You're not getting the Vegas strip experience, but you are getting a convenient, smoke-free gaming floor with thousands of machines and decent dining options. Weekends get crowded, particularly Friday and Saturday evenings. If you prefer a quieter environment with better machine availability, visit during weekday mornings or afternoons.

Join the players club before you play—it takes two minutes at the rewards desk or through a kiosk. Check the promotion schedule before you go; Empire City runs regular drawings, giveaways, and point multiplier days that can add value to your visit. And bring cash; while they have ATMs, the fees aren't cheap, and not all machines accept ticket-in/ticket-out the same way traditional casinos handle it.

Finally, set a budget before you arrive. The fast pace of VLT play—combined with betting minimums that might be higher than you expect—can eat through a bankroll quickly. Treat it as entertainment spending, not an investment strategy.

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